What the i4a Platform Includes
The i4a platform is a complete association management system where every module shares the same member database. Here's what's included:
Membership
Unlimited member records, custom fields, renewal automation, retention tracking
Events
Registration, sessions, attendee management, CEU tracking, virtual or in-person
Portal & Directory
Member self-service, profile management, searchable directory with maps
Email & Comms
Segmented campaigns, scheduled emails, renewal reminders, tracking
Payments
Credit card, ACH, check, PO, auto-renew, QuickBooks export
Reporting
Real-time dashboards, retention metrics, revenue tracking, custom reports
Platform Architecture
All-in-one AMS platform with membership, events, portal, directory, email, and integrations
Why a Unified Platform Matters
Many associations piece together separate tools for membership, events, email, and payments. Each tool has its own database, login, and monthly fee. The integrations between them are fragile and break when vendors update their software.
The Patchwork Problem
- 5-10 separate subscriptions and bills
- Constant CSV exports/imports between systems
- No single source of truth for member data
- Multiple logins for staff to remember
- Support runaround between vendors
- Per-member fees from multiple providers
The Unified Platform Advantage
- One platform, one bill
- Data flows automatically between modules
- Native integration—nothing to break
- Single member database for everything
- One login, one interface to learn
- One support team for all issues
- Flat-rate pricing, unlimited members
When a member registers for an event in the i4a platform, their registration records automatically. When they renew, the right emails trigger. When they pay, the transaction appears in their profile and exports to accounting. No manual intervention required.
Core Modules
Membership
Store unlimited member records with contact information, membership history, and custom fields. Configure multiple membership types with different dues rates—individual, student, organizational, lifetime. Schedule renewal reminder emails to send at intervals you choose—such as 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before expiration.
Events
Run conferences, webinars, workshops, and meetings from the platform. Registration connects to member records—members see info pre-filled and get member pricing automatically. Track sessions, manage speakers, handle CEU credits, and support both in-person and virtual events.
Portal & Directory
Give members 24/7 self-service access to update profiles, renew memberships, register for events, and access resources. Publish searchable directories that pull directly from your database with search by name, location, specialty, or custom fields. Map integration included.
Email & Communications
Send targeted communications using segments based on membership status, event registration, or any member field. Schedule renewal reminder emails. Track opens, clicks, and engagement without separate email tools.
Payments & Accounting
Process credit cards and ACH for dues, events, and store purchases. Support auto-pay for recurring memberships. Auto-code transactions to your chart of accounts and export to QuickBooks. PCI DSS Level 1 compliant—the highest security standard.
Reporting
Real-time dashboards for retention rates, revenue by source, new member acquisition, and lapse analysis. Create custom views to combine membership, event, and financial data. Export to Excel or generate board-ready PDFs in minutes instead of hours.
See the Platform in Action
Membership Management
Event Registration
Member Portal
Screenshots of membership management, event registration, and member portal modules
Add-Ons: Submissions & AI Tools
Submissions Manager collects abstracts, proposals, award nominations, and scholarship applications with configurable review scoring criteria. i4ai Studio provides AI-powered productivity tools for content generation, email drafts, and data analysis—built into the platform.
Integrations and Extensibility
While the platform handles most association needs natively, it connects with external tools when required:
REST API
Full API access for custom integrations, data sync with other systems, and custom application development.
Single Sign-On (SSO)
Let members use their i4a login on external websites and learning platforms.
WordPress
Plugin for organizations maintaining separate WordPress sites who need member data access.
Integration Partners
Connect with 30+ integration partners for LMS, events, marketing, and other specialized tools.
Integration Ecosystem
AMS integrations ecosystem with API, SSO, and WordPress
Security, Hosting, and Reliability
Enterprise Security
256-bit SSL encryption, PCI DSS Level 1 compliance for payments, regular security audits
U.S.-Based Servers
All data hosted on secure U.S. servers. No offshore data storage.
Daily Backups
Automatic daily backups with point-in-time recovery. Your data is protected.
You own your data and can export it at any time. We never sell or share member information. Security is maintained by our team—no dedicated IT staff required on your end. i4a has been trusted with association data for 30 years because we take security seriously.
Implementation and Onboarding
Most organizations go live in 60-90 days. Here's what the process includes:
Discovery
We advise on best setup based on your workflows and requirements
Migration
Import member records, history, and activity through built-in import wizards
Configuration
Set up membership types, emails, and branding through admin tools
Training & Launch
We train your team and support you through go-live
Built-in import wizards guide you through data migration—export from your current system, map fields, and validate imports. Most organizations continue normal operations during implementation with minimal disruption to staff.
Typical Timeline
- Weeks 1-2: Discovery calls, requirements gathering, data export from current systems
- Weeks 3-6: Data migration, membership type setup, workflow configuration
- Weeks 7-10: Staff training, testing, email template setup, website configuration
- Weeks 11-12: Go-live, member communication, post-launch support
Support and Customer Success
U.S.-Based Support
Work directly with experienced team members who know associations. No offshore call centers. No week-long ticket queues. Real humans who understand your world and can help solve problems quickly.
One Support Team
Because everything runs on one platform, you contact one team for all issues. No more support runaround between membership vendor, event vendor, and email vendor.
Training & Resources
Comprehensive training during implementation plus ongoing access to documentation and video tutorials. New staff get up to speed quickly.
30 Years Experience
Serving associations since 1996. We've seen what works and what doesn't. The platform reflects decades of real-world association management experience.
Industries We Serve
The i4a platform serves membership organizations across industries. While the core platform works for all membership organizations, each industry has specific needs we've built features to address:
Industries served by the i4a AMS platform
i4a vs. Typical AMS Platforms
| Feature | Typical AMS | i4a |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per-member fees | Flat rate, unlimited |
| Ownership | VC-backed | Stakeholder commitment |
| Support | Ticket systems | Tickets included, direct access available |
| Email Contacts | Capped or tiered | Unlimited |
| API Access | Extra fees | Included |
What Our Clients Say
"We consolidated 12+ association clients onto i4a and saved over $100,000 annually in software costs alone. The platform scales effortlessly from small regional associations to large national organizations—all on one familiar system our team only had to learn once."
"As a two-person team managing a growing association, i4a has been a game-changer. The all-in-one platform eliminated the need to juggle multiple systems, and the unlimited member pricing means we can focus on growth instead of worrying about per-contact fees eating into our budget."
"For professional societies needing complete web services, i4a is an outstanding, easy-to-use option. Our website development costs and implementation time have been profoundly impacted with streamlined business efficiencies."
Continue Learning
Explore our comprehensive guides to association and membership management
Association Management Software (AMS)
Learn how AMS platforms combine membership, events, email, and payments in one integrated system for associations.
Membership Management Software
Comprehensive guide to membership databases, automated renewals, self-service portals, and choosing the right membership software.
See the Platform in Action
Schedule a personalized demo to see how the i4a platform can replace your disconnected tools with one integrated solution—with flat-rate pricing that doesn't punish growth.
TL;DR — Platform Summary
- What it is: An integrated platform combining membership, events, email, payments, portal, and reporting
- Key difference: Every feature shares the same database—no syncing, no middleware, no integrations to break
- Core modules: Membership, Events, Portal & Directory, Email, Payments, Reporting, plus AI tools
- Integrations: REST API, SSO, WordPress when you need external connections
- Security: 256-bit SSL, PCI DSS Level 1, U.S.-based servers, daily backups
- Implementation: 60-90 days typical, data migration included
- Pricing: Flat-rate with unlimited members—no per-contact fees
- Support: U.S.-based team, one contact for all issues
Frequently Asked Questions
Native integration. Every feature shares the same member database—when someone registers for an event, their record updates automatically. With separate tools, you're constantly exporting/importing data and fixing sync errors. The i4a platform eliminates this because everything is built to work together.
Most associations pay $500-2,000+/month for separate membership database, event platform, email service, and payment processing—with per-member fees. The i4a platform replaces all of these with one flat monthly rate that includes unlimited members. Your cost doesn't increase as you grow.
Most organizations go live in 60-90 days. This includes data migration, configuration, and training. Straightforward implementations can go faster; complex legacy migrations may take longer. Built-in import wizards guide you through the data migration process.
Yes. Built-in import wizards let you bring in member records, transaction history, and activity data from spreadsheets, other AMS platforms, and databases. The process involves exporting your data, mapping fields, and validating the import.
Yes. The platform uses 256-bit SSL encryption, PCI DSS Level 1 compliance for payments, and U.S.-based servers with daily backups. You own your data and can export it anytime. We never sell or share member information.
Organizations with 1,000 to 50,000+ members. Flat-rate pricing makes it accessible to smaller organizations while the platform scales to handle large national associations. It's particularly valuable if you're juggling multiple disconnected tools today.
